Can someone explain this? Is this really how he sees it or is he just looking for an excuse?

Broke up months ago after two year relationship. Broke ties then he asked to be friends and was sorry for the pain he put me through. A few days later a death in my family occurred and be pushed to be here for me. I let him. Then he asked me for boyfriend/girlfriend things and I said no. He grew distant the less I let him talk about it and then I invited his kid to mines bday and he said he was blocking me because I can't keep it friends, that he feels I circle to the past. Is he projecting this on me or is this how he is really thinking?